Republican National Convention Day 4: It’s all about one man

In a year that has been so improbable, what many believed was impossible will happen Thursday night: Donald Trump will accept the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. The controversial billionaire and ex-star of The Apprentice will close out the rocky, unpredictable GOP convention and address millions across the nation, basking in the moment that few American politicians have ever enjoyed. Also scheduled to speak on Trump's big night: Peter Thiel, one of the few tech execs that will vote for the mercurial New Yorker; and Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump’s eldest daughter who is seen as an effective bridge to female voters and a staunch defender of her “feminist” father.

Donald Trump walks in at Quicken Loans Arena after winning the nomination for president during the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio on Wednesday, July 20, 2016. Nick Oza, The Arizona Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK

Caitlyn Jenner arrives to speak at an American Unity Fund brunch at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention. Jenner said it was easier to come out as transgender than it was as a Republican. The transgender activist and Olympic gold medalist was speaking at a breakfast at the Republican National Convention to promote LGBT inclusion in the GOP. Josh Lederman, AP

The annual nerd mecca, Comic-Con, begins in San Diego

Pop-culture enthusiasts from around the world are flocking to the San Diego Convention Center on Thursday as the curtain rises on Comic-Con International. More than 125,000 attendees will be entertained through Sunday with the industry’s biggest and best movies, TV shows, comic books and video games. Marvel Studios will present a line-up of superhero movies including Doctor Strange, while Warner Bros.will tout six new films, including the Harry Potter prequel Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. As for TV, Game of Thrones and Fear the Walking Dead will take center stage. If you can’t make it this year, USA TODAY will be there to give you the latest.

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The pop-culture extravaganza Comic-Con (July 20-24 in San Diego) always brings lot of cool stuff for fans to buy. Kicking off Mattel's collectibles this year a "Ghostbusters" Light & Sound pack ($24.99) stars minifigures of the female characters from the new film plus the giant ghost Rowan. Paul Jordan

Fans can celebrate the 50th anniversary of "Star Trek" with a Hot Wheels tribute $20) to Leonard Nimoy and the 1964 Buick Riviera he would drive to set during the days of the original TV show. Dennis DiLaura

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Russia loses appeal against Olympic ban on its track and field athletes

The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected an appeal case of 68 Russian track and field athletes seeking to overturn a ban imposed by the International Association of Athletics Federation following allegations of state-sponsored doping and cover-ups. The upheld ban means the team will probably not participate in the Summer Olympics in Rio.

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Officials from at least 10 countries, along with 20 athlete groups, will request that Russia be barred from the Rio games, Rebecca R. Ruiz of The New York Times reports.
Time

May makes her first visit to France as prime minister

Theresa May is making her first visit to continental Europe as Britain's new prime minister. She is meeting with French President François Hollande on Thursday — on the heels of her meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday — as she lays the groundwork for negotiations over Britain's exit from the European Union. May said Britain’s goal is to retain “the closest possible economic relationship” with the EU countries as they iron out issues over trade and migration. May and Hollande will also discuss counterterrorism cooperation in the wake of last week’s deadly truck attack in Nice.

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The UK's new prime minister Theresa May faced her first question time in office, speaking on a wide range of issues including terrorism and trade with Europe. (July 20)
AP

GM reports earnings in wake of self-driving car push

General Motors becomes the first major automaker to release its second-quarter earnings Thursday, and they will almost certainly be higher than a year earlier. Analysts and investors will be most interested in efforts to make inroads into Europe — since almost all profits came from North America — and how much the automaker is spending on autonomous vehicle technology and "new mobility" ventures. GM is also expected to disclose details of its $1 billion acquisition of Cruise Automation, a San Francisco start-up now testing partially self-driving cars.